Paint roller washer



June 5, 1962 L. o. LEACH 3,037,516

PAINT ROLLER WASHER Filed Dec. 22. 1960 2 SheetsSheet 1 LLOYD 0. LEAGH,

June 5, 1962 L. o. LEACH 3,037,516

PAINT ROLLER WASHER Filed Dec. 22, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 88 H 82 w M 24 INVENTOR. i J 41.0 Y0 0. 45.40,

28 2 5'6 F76. 6, /Z 9mm Unite States Patent 3,037,516 PAINT ROLLER WASHER Lloyd 0. Leach, 506 Main St., La Grande, Oreg. Filed Dec. 22, 1960, Ser. No. 77,646 Claims. (Cl. 134-138) This invention relates to a novel and improved washer for paint rollers.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a more eflicient, practical, and easily used device of the kind indicated, wherein a paint roller is adapted to be rotated and washed by contact therewith of water under pressure issuing from a hose extended through opening means in the device, the device having combined hose guiding and splash or spray guard means cooperating with the opening means, which guides the hose along the roller and prevents escape of water from the opening means during a washing operation.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of the character indicated above which has novel and improved holding means for holding roller elements of diiferent sizes in proper positions within the device, so that paint rollers are not required to be held by hand during washing operations.

.A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of the character indicated above which has bracket means for mounting the device on a water bucket or the like, during washing operations, whereby the device is self-supporting and drains into the bucket or the like.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a device of the character indicated above which is composed of a small number of simple and easily assembled parts, and which can be made in rugged and wellfinished forms, at relatively low cost, of a variety of available materials, including plastics.

Other important objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein, for purposes of illustration only, a specific form of the invention is set forth in detail.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a bottom perspective view of a device of the present invention, showing a paint roller supported in washing position thereon;

FIGURE 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line 22, a portion being broken away, and a supported paint roller being shown in phantom lines;

FIGURE 3 is a schematic perspective view, on a reduced scale, showing the device mounted in a bucket, with a paint roller mounted on the device;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged vertical transverse section taken on theline 44 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 55 of FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary end elevation of the paint roller handle support.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein like and related numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, the illustrated device comprises a vertically elongated hollow cylindrical housing 10, having a sidewall 12, an open lower end 14, and an imperforate top wall 16 which closes the upper end of the housing.

An external T-shaped paint roller handle holder or support *18 is fixed to and extends radially from the housing sidewall 12. The support 18 can besolid, as when made of wood, or of hollow plastic or metal construction (not shown). The holder 18 comprises a straight cross head 20 which is of substantially the same length as the housing 10, and a straight standard 22 which is centered on the cross head and extends outwardly from the cross head 20 at right angles thereto. The cross head 20 is ice fixed, in suitable manner, to the housing sidewall 12, as by means of bolts 24, extending through the cross head and the sidewall, and have heads 26 flush with the inner surface of the sidewall 12, as shown in FIGURE 4. As is also shown in FIGURES 4 and 2, the cross head 20 can be substantially narrower or smaller in cross section than the standard 22 and be separate from the standard and fixed at its inner end to the outer side of the cross head 20, by means of several wood-screws 28, extended through the housing sidewall =12 and the crosshead 20, and threaded into the standard 22.

The standard 22 is provided with opposed and parallel flat vertical sides 30 and'32, which have threaded therein three paint roller handle clamping screws, consisting of an outer screw 34, an inner screw 36, and a lower screw 38. The outer screw 34 is located on the side 30 near the outer end of the standard 22, along the upper edge thereof, remote from the open lower end 14 of the housing 10. The inner screw 36 is located on the side 30 at the meeting of the inner end of the standard 22 and the cross head 20, and is displaced downwardly relative to the outer screw 34, at a distance substantially equalling the thickness of the handle member of a paint roller. The lower screw 38 is located on the related side of the cross head, near the lower end of the cross head, and is offset inwardly, toward the housing sidewall 12, at a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the paint roller handle member.

Similar clamping screws 34*, 36 and 38 are threaded into the side 32 of the holder or handle support 18, in the same locations as the screws 34, 36, and 38.

The housing sidewall '12 is formed with a vertical, parallel sided opening 40 which has upper and lower ends which are spaced from the upper and lower ends of the housing 10, the opening 40 is formed in the housing sidewall 12 so that one vertical edge 42 thereof is unencumbered and its other vertical edge has thereon a full-length flat and inwardly angled water-directing vane 44. As shown in FIGURE 2, the opening 40 is located at 45 from' the holder :18, and is located at the side 30 of the holder standard 22, and the vane 44 is disposed, at an acute angle, toward the holder 18, so that wash water entering the housing 10, through the opening 40, is directed tangentially to the peripheryof the rollermember of a paint roller, at the same side as the location of the vane 44, as shown in FIGURE 2, when the handle member of the paint roller is supported on the side 30 of the support standard 22. V

. .Fo'r washing a smaller paint roller its handle member is adapted to be clamped to the side- 32 of the holder standard 22, by means of the screws 34 36 and 38 v in which case the directing vane 44 is not tangential to the roller member, but incoming water is instead flowed fixed, a straight intermediate portion 56, on;the inner end of and disposed at right angles to the outer portion 52, and a straight inner portion 58, on the outer end of and dis posed at right angles to the intermediate portion 56, the

inner portion 58' terminating in a shaft '60 which parallels the intermediate portioir56, and on which the roller member 50-is journalled. v 7 v As shown in FIGURE 1, the paint roller R is adapted to be washed in the illustrated device by inserting the roller member 50 up into'the housing 10, through its openk. lower end 14, and, in the case of a relatively large paint roller, engaging the handle member 48 with the side 30 of the holder 18, and clamping the handle member thereon, by means of the screws 34, 36, and 38. This is done by engaging the outer portion 52 with the underside of the outer screw 34, under its head, engaging the inner end of the portion 52 with the upper side of the inner screw 36, under its head, and engaging the intermediate portion 56 under the head of and with the side of the lower screw 36 remote from the housing, and tightening the screws. This positions the roller member 50, as shown in phantom lines in FIGURE 2, with the periphery of the roller member 50 in tangential relation to the water directing vane 44.

A washing operation can be performed, with the housing positioned vertically, with its open lower end down, by inserting a hose end or hose nozzle (not shown) into the housing sidewall opening 40, whereby water issuing from the hose is directed by the vane 44 tangentially against the periphery of the roller element 50 and acts to rotate the roller member 50 on the shaft 60 and continue ously present circumferentially successive areas of the roller element to the wash water, as long or as often as needed to thoroughly wash the roller member.

In order to prevent splashing and misdirection of water through the opening 40, from a hose or the like, a guard, generally designated 62, is provided for the opening 40. The guard 62 consists of an elongated flat plate 64 of relatively rigid material, such as metal or plastic, slightly wider than the opening 40, and having fiat reduced width ears 66 on its ends which are acutely angled, out of the plane of the plate 64. Also on the ends of the plate 64, at one side of the cars 66, are relatively narrow L-shaped arms having main portions 68 disposed at right angles to the plate 64 and hook terminals 79, which are disposed at right angles to and are directed laterally outwardly from the main portions 68. The plate 64 has an unencumbered outer edge 72, and an inner edge portion 74 which is angled outwardly out of the plane of the plate 64, and is adapted to be engaged through the opening 40, with the inner surface of the housing sidewall 12, along the edge 42 of the opening 40, as shown in FIGURE 2, with the ears 66 hearing against the outer surface of the housing sidewall, and with the hook terminals 70 engaged with the inner surface of the housing sidewall, at the ends of the opening 40. This arrangement positions the plate 64 at an outward tangential angle to the housing sidewall 12 and positions the plate 64 spacedly over the water-directing vane, so that the plate 64 and the vane 44 together define a water jet nozzle which confines and accelerates water from a hose, inserted therebetween, against the roller member 50, and prevents escape of water over the edge 42 of the opening 40.

The above described device can be conveniently and etficiently used with and mounted on a support, such as a water catching bucket or pail P, by means of a bracket 76. The bracket 76 can comprise a single length of flap strap material, of limited resilience, formed into a U-shape having fiat inner and outer arms 78 and 80, respectively, connected by and biased toward each other by a bight portion 82. The bracket 76 is engaged over the lower edge of the housing sidewall 12, with the inner arm engaged with the inner surface and the outer arm 80 engaged with the outer surface of the sidewall 12, and the bight portion 82 engaged with the lower edge of the sidewall 12. The outer bracket arm 80 terminates, at its upper end, in a laterally outwardly and downwardly directed hook 84, which includes a semi-circular bight portion 86 and a downwardly extending leg 88, which terminates, at its lower end, in an outwardly curved lip 90. As shown in FIGURE 3, the washer device is adapted to be supported in a pail P, with the standard 22 of its holder 18 resting upon the upper edge 92 of the pail sidewall 94, at one side of the pail, and with the hook 84 of the bracket 76 engaged over the upper edge of the pail sidewall, at the other side of the pail. This assures that the water and material washed from the roller member 50 within the housing 10 drains into and is confined in the pail P. Further, this arrangement can leave the hands of the operator of the device free, where the hose nozzle is joined between the guard and the water-directing vane 44. In the event that it is desired to manually move a hose upwardly and downwardly in the opening 40, as an incident to a washing operation, this arrangement enables such operation to be performed, in a manner involving the use of only the hand holding the hose.

Although there has been shown and described herein a preferred form of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not necessarily confined thereto, and that any change or changes in the structure of and in the relative arrangements of components thereof are contemplated as being within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. A paint roller washer comprising a vertical housing having a closed upper end and an open lower end, said housing having a sidewall, a fixed paint roller handle holder fixed to and extending radially outwardly from said sidewall, said sidewall being formed with a vertically elongated water entrance opening spaced from and located at one side of said holder, said housing being cylindrical and being substantially larger in diameter than a roller member to be positioned in and washed in said housing by water entering said opening, and an inwardly angled water-directing vane on one vertical edge of said opening, said vane extending toward said holder.

2. A paint roller washer comprising a vertical housing having a closed upper end and an open lower end, said housing having a sidewall, a fixed paint roller handle holder fixed to and extending radially outwardly from said sidewall, said sidewall being formed with a vertically elongated water entrance opening spaced from and located at one side of said holder, said housing being cylindrical and being substantially larger in diameter than a roller member to be positioned in and washed in said housing by water entering said opening, and an inwardly angled water directing vane on one vertical edge of said opening, said vane extending toward said holder, a splash guard for said opening, said guard comprising a plate coextensive with and spaced outwardly from said vane and covering said opening, and means mounting said guard on the housing sidewall.

3. A paint roller washer comprising a vertical housing having a closed upper end and an open lower end, said housing having a sidewall, a fixed paint roller handle holder fixed to and extending radially outwardly from said sidewall, said sidewall being formed with a vertically elongated water entrance opening spaced from and located at one side of said holder, said housing being cylindrical and being substantially larger in diameter than a roller member to be positioned in and washed in said housing by water entering said opening, and an inwardly angled water-directing vane on one vertical edge of said opening, said vane extending toward said holder, and bracket means on said sidewall for supporting the housing on a support.

4. A paint roller washer comprising a vertical housing having a closed upper end and an open lower end, said housing having a sidewall, a fixed paint roller handle holder fixed to and extending radially outwardly from said sidewall, said sidewall being formed with a vertically elongated water entrance opening spaced from and located at one side of said holder, said housing being cylindrical and being substantially larger in diameter than a roller member to be positioned in and Washed in said housing by water entering said opening, and an inwardly angled water-directing vane on one vertical edge of said opening, said vane extending toward said holder, and a bracket secured on said housing sidewall having a hook adapted to be supportedly engaged over the sidewall of a bucket.

5. A paint roller washer comprising a vertical housing having a closed upper end and an open lower end, said housing having a sidewall, a fixed paint roller handle holder fixed to and extending radially outwardly from said sidewall, said sidewall being formed with a vertically elongated water entrance opening spaced from and located at one side of said holder, said housing being cylindrical and being substantially larger in diameter than a roller member to be positioned in and washed in said housing by water entering said opening, and an inwardly angled water-directing vane on one vertical edge of said opening, said vane extending toward said holder, said holder being T-shaped and comprising a vertical cross head fixed to the housing sidewall and a central horizontal standard extending radially outwardly from the cross head.

6. A paint roller washer comprising a vertical housing having a closed upper end and an open lower end, said housing having a sidewall, a fixed paint roller handle holder fixed to and extending radially outwardly from said sidewall, said sidewall being formed with a vertically elongated water entrance opening spaced from and located at one side of said holder, said housing being cylindrical and being substantially larger in diameter than a roller member to be positioned in and washed in said housing by water entering said opening, and an inwardly angled waterdirecting vane on one vertical edge of said opening, said vane extending toward said holder, said holder being T-shaped and comprising a vertical cross head fixed to the housing sidewall and a central horizontal standard extending radially outwardly from the cross head, and paint roller handle clamping means on said cross head and said standard.

7. A paint roller washer comprising a vertical housing having a closed upper end and an open lower end, said housing having a sidewall, a fixed paint roller handle holder fixed to and extending radially outwardly from said sidewall, said sidewall being formed with a vertically elongated water entrance opening spaced from and located at one side of said holder, said housing being cylindrical and being substantially larger in diameter than a roller member to be positioned in and washed in said housing by water entering said opening, and an inwardly angled water-directing vane on one vertical edge of said opening, said vane extending toward said holder, said holder being T-shaped and comprising a vertical cross head fixed to the housing sidewall and a central horizontal standard extending radially outwardly from the cross head, and paint roller handle clamping means on said cross head and said standard.

8. A paint roller washer comprising a vertical housing having a closed upper end and an open lower end, said housing having a sidewall, a fixed paint roller handle holder fixed to and extending radially outwardly from said sidewall, said sidewall being formed with a vertically elongated water entrance opening spaced from and located at one side of said holder, said housing being cylindrical and being substantially larger in diameter than a roller member to be positioned in and washed in said housing by water entering said opening, and an inwardly angled water-directing vane on one vertical edge of said opening, said vane extending toward said holder, said holder being T-shaped and comprising a vertical cross head fixed to the housing sidewall and a central horizontal standard extending radially outwardly from the cross head, said holder having parallel opposed first and second sides, said first side being adjacent to said vane and said second side being remote from said vane, and paint roller handle clamping means on said first and second sides.

9. A paint roller washer comprising a vertical housing having a closed upper end and an open lower end, said housing having a sidewall, a fixed paint roller handle holder fixed to and extending radially outwardly from said sidewall, said sidewall being formed with a vertically elongated water entrance opening spaced from and located at one side of said holder, said housing being cylindrical and being substantially larger in diameter than a roller member to be positioned in and washed in said housing by Water entering said opening, and an inwardly angled water-directing vane on one vertical edge of said opening, said vane extending toward said holder, said holder being T-shaped and comprising a vertical cross head fixed to the housing sidewall and a central horizontal standard extending radially outwardly from the cross head, and paint roller handle clamping means on said cross head and said standard, comprising outer and inner headed screws on said cross head and said standard.

10. In combination, a pail having a sidewall, having an upper edge, a paint roller washer comprising a vertical hollow housing having an open lower end, said housing being smaller in diameter than and positioned within the pail, a paint roller handle holder fixed to and extending laterally from the housing and resting upon the upper edge of the pail sidewall, a hook on the opposite side of the housing from the holder engaged over the upper edge of the pail sidewall, said housing having a sidewall formed with a water entrance opening located between said holder and said hook.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,985,508 La Sell Dec. 25, 1934 2,167,540 Welsh July 25, 1939 2,773,274 Beech Dec. 11, 1956 2,831,488 Anderson Apr. 22, 1958 2,938,368 Bixel May 31, 1960 2,985,178 Christensen May 23, 1961 

